The Stelter City Saga: Ultranatural Read online

  "Oh, cool!" Lee gasped noticing the enormous window. "We're so riding up here for the takeoff." she announced as she plopped in the co-pilot's seat. "I'm so excited! This is going to be the first time either of us have gotten out of Tarrillian!"

  Ace flopped down in the comfortable control seat. She was right. This was their first time. Though, they had gone up to the hills of East Side once, but that wasn't truly far enough away from the city. But a six hour flight to a city in the middle of the ocean was quite the distance.

  Ace wasn't excited about the sandy beaches and the tranquil waters. He was ready for answers. After the wedding, he hadn't shut his eyes once. His mind was racing without end and even as he sat in the cockpit, he couldn’t shut off his thoughts. Tarrillian City was an enormous place. Even with all the things that had happened there, there were even bigger things to unmask.

  "Ace," Lee called and the boy looked up.

  His gaze met hers and he smiled at her troubled expression with reassurance. "I'm fine angel, don't worry about me." he reached over the armrest and locked his fingers in hers. "I love you." he muttered. "So much.”

  Lee blushed. Ace was by far a better boyfriend than she could have imagined. He was stunningly handsome, strong, powerful, mysterious and even from the very beginning; he was the most loving person Lee had ever met. The gang loved him, and even though at first he treated her horribly, she loved him back. It had just taken a while for him to cave into his feelings for her.

  She was the most seraphic person he had ever met. In a filthy city like Tarrillian, it was nice to meet someone who was polite enough to say 'thank you'. From the moment she said that, Lee had clung to his mind like glue. He knew he would fall for her if given the time, now he had, and with each passing day he fell harder and harder.

  “Have I ever told you that you are the best thing to happen to me?" he continued.

  "You don't have to tell me." she offered. "I know how you feel about me."

  Ace kissed the top of her hand, “But I love telling you how much you mean to me.” he reached in and scooped her up by the waist and she nestled against his lap like a baby. “You’re perfect, Lee, in every single way.” He muttered into her hair.

  “I am not,” she objected, then stopped.

  She knew he was about to comfort her, after all, Ace knew everything about her including every single one of her insecurities. She hated the fact that she was fare haired and that there was absolutely no color in her face. She too hated the shape of her body. For an adult, she still had absolutely no curves and the reason for her height was her freakishly long torso. Whenever she was out in public, she felt like a disproportioned scrawny washed out stick walking beside her supermodel of a boyfriend.

  Girls always stared at Ace and even though he could practically get any girl he wanted, he always returned to Lee. It was her personality that made her so irresistible and Ace couldn’t go a day without reminding her. But in the end, having a wonderful personality couldn’t change her looks. Lee’s never ending fear was that another woman who was just as sweet and polite as her, would come into their lives and take him away. Since she figured that just about any other person on the streets was more beautiful than she was, her fear was that any day now that would happen.

  “Lee, you are-”

  “No, no, Ace,” she muttered swiftly cutting him off, “Don’t. You’ve told me hundreds of times how beautiful I am. I know I just need to get over myself.”

  Ace scoffed, “What are you talking about?”

  “My ugliness,” she grumbled.

  “Lee!” Ace exclaimed, his voice laired in grief. “How could you say that? You know everybody thinks you look like Lotus Stelter.”

  “Yeah, but did you know she was number 8 on the Top Ten Ugliest Celebrities list?” she exclaimed. She had glanced at a magazine while waiting in line at a grocery store. It was petty, but she couldn’t just ignore it.

  “Lee…” Ace muttered again and this time Lee saw a sorrowful slant in his eyes, “I cannot believe you are saying this. You are gorgeous to me; I don’t care what other people think.”

  “But I do.” She confessed. “I know I shouldn’t but I really do.”

  “No angel, listen to me.” His firm callused hands grasped onto her cheeks and he held her eyes to face him. She stared back at her reflection in the deep ocean of his eyes. Why did he have to be so beautiful? “Do not ever say that again, understand? I love you forever and always and especially regardless of what ever faults you think you have. Do you understand?”

  Lee was hypnotized by his words and enchanted by his face, but even then she managed to nod.

  “Now let me see you smile.” He insisted.

  Lee gave a slight smirk, but even that grew into a radiant beam. “Why are you the best thing this world hast to offer?”

  “I ask the same question about you every day.” He whispered.

  Lee nibbled on her lip as her eyes remained lost in his. Her fingers traced his jaw and when she closed her eyes his lips were there to meet her.

  “I love you.” His voice met her in the dark.

  “I love you too.” She replied then nestled against his chest and listened to the steady beating of his heart. “What time does the plane leave?” she asked.

  As if to answer her question, the engine ignited and the whole jet vibrated with energy. Above their heads a light flashed: Please fasten your seatbelt! Lee hopped of Ace’s lap and sat back in the co-pilot’s seat. She had just strapped herself down when a headphone crackled with the voice from the control tower.

  Dohnatello had already solved that issue. As if the plane had a voice, a series of clicks and whistles fluttered into the speakers. There was a pause from the other end then finally, Lee heard the control tower give the OK. With a gentle jerk, the plane drove itself forward. Lee squealed with thrill and grasped onto Ace’s hand. Together they watched as the plane drove down one lane, then another, then another.

  Eventually after a maze of turns, the jet stopped at the end of the runway. There was nothing ahead of them but the long shadow of the aircraft against the stretch of asphalt and the West Side skyline. The plane waited there for a moment and Lee watched as lights on the dash board flashed indicating that the plane was checking its wings. The anticipation was swelling up in her chest until finally all the lights stopped and the roar of the engine grew louder.

  The acceleration started off slow with the stripped yellow lines disappearing one by one beneath the jet. Then the craft began to pick up speed. The yellow lines had morphed into one solid line and the speed had sent her back pressed flatly into the seat. She felt the tires leave the ground once, then twice, and then they were soaring. The view was spectacular. As they climbed over the scrapers she felt as if she could reach out and touch them. The glass buildings were so close she saw the reflection of the jet sliding across the wall of towers. Then with a whoosh, everything was gone and what took its place was the glistening ocean.

  The morning sun reflected off its uneven surface igniting the ocean into a sheet of silver. What spots that weren’t touched by light were black as coal and seemed to stretch on forever until it disappeared over the edge of the world. Like the first time she set eyes on Ace, she felt as if she could never grow tired of the scene.

  Her ears popped as they continued to rise. Tarrillian City was completely gone now and she swiveled around in her seat to look back at it. Instead her eyes fell on the first aid kit nailed into the cockpit wall. Gone. The city that she grew up in. Gone. Her heart panged with the lost as her mind reassured her that she would be back. Ace squeezed her hand comfortingly and she spun back around.

  She had just gotten the last peek of the never ending ocean when it was obscured by a blinding white wall. For less than a second they soared through the clouds. Lee had no idea she was about to be transported into a world unlike anything she would ever see again. When the white wash slid from the window, everything was either baby blue or the purest white. As they soared
above the clouds, the rolling scene stretched out like a snowy wonderland blanketing high above the ocean like the world’s largest comforter. She wanted to jump on one of those marshmallow-like clouds so badly even though she knew she would sink right through.

  Her eyes scanned the vast blinding surface as her jaw sat agape. Somehow through the wondrous amazement, Lee caught sight of Ace. He had been smiling at her from the beginning of the flight. It was undeniable that the things out the window were amazing, but the expression radiating from Lee’s face was one he treasured so much more.

  Lee smiled back and squeezed her fingers in his. “This is amazing!”

  He nodded as her eyes flew back out the windshield. “Yes, yes it is.”

  The endless wonderland slowly diminished beneath them until it had vanished all the way. Now there was nothing but the endless expanse of blinding ocean. When Lee looked out in any direction, she saw that the horizon wasn’t a fine line, but a misty mash of water and sky. Eventually the plane leveled out and there was nothing more to see for the next several hours.

  “That was amazing!” she exclaimed pulling her fingers back so that she could unbuckle her seatbelt.

  “Now we just have to kill six hours.” remarked Ace rising from his own seat. “I don’t know about you but I’m starving.”

  “I know, I didn’t eat breakfast either!” Lee responded. They ducked through the door of the cockpit and instead of an empty jet to great them; Lee’s eyes fell on two people sharing a couch and a bottle of champagne.

  No one said a word. Four pairs of eyes danced back and forth. Lee to Ace, then August to Michael.

  Finally August turned to his friend and asked quietly, “Dohnatello said Hanger 4, right?”

  ~Larissa’s head rolled onto Ammon’s shoulder as the plane slowly tilted to the side. The sliver of light cast from the crack in the window climbed up her shirt until it landed directly in her eyes. With a groggy gasp she sat up and blinked for the first time that day.

  Ammon chuckled, “Finally, you’re awake!”

  Larissa rubbed her eyes. At first she noticed the low rumbled of the plane’s engines, then the sound of Caring Diaz bleeding through Cassie’s headphones. Josh was snoring softly with a lob of drool staining his shirt, and up ahead the airline attendant was coming around to order the first class lunches.

  The plane tilted some more and once again the beam of window light stung Larissa’s eyes. With a grunt she slammed down the blind and burrowed her cheek against Ammon’s shoulder. “Don’t wake me up.” she grumbled.

  Ammon shook her softly, “Nope, you’ve been asleep all flight I think it’s time you wake up.”

  Larissa gritted her teeth. “Ammon, leave me alone. I’m tired.”

  “That’s because you just woke up.” he insisted, “Here’s some coffee. It’s probably really cold.”

  Larissa didn’t move. She inhaled deeply and at first she considered ignoring him and falling right back to sleep. Then she recognized the tone in his voice. He was himself. No sarcasm, no faint mumble; there was life once more in his words. Slowly she creaked one of her large almond eyes open, then the other.

  “Are you smiling at me?” she asked sitting up all the way.

  Ammon handed her the cold drink. “Maybe.”

  Larissa took a sip of the bitter brown liquid. “You are smiling. What makes you so happy?”

  Ammon shrugged and glanced away. There was a businessman in the row beside him who might have been a college professor in disguise since there were chalky fingerprints along his nice pants and his nose was buried in a highlighted copy of The Universal Study of Mathematics. “It’s just nice that you’re finally up.” he replied.

  Larissa narrowed her eyes. Ammon had always been a pretty good liar, but this time he seemed more convincing than ever. “Uh-hummm… How much longer is the flight?”

  “Five hours.”

  Coffee sprayed from her mouth when she gasped. “Five hours?! You’re joking! I’m going back to sleep.” She set the coffee cup back in the holder and was about to recline in her seat when Ammon caught her hand.

  “I want to talk to you.” He whispered.

  Larissa studied his eyes. They were almost a colorless green in that lighting and his lashes fanned out like shells. He hadn’t looked at her like that in a while, yet Larissa couldn’t help but to find it odd that one short conversation from a week ago had brought him back. He leaned in and for one moment she thought he was going to kiss her. Then his lips sailed past hers and stopped at her ear.

  “How about that secret?” he asked.

  Larissa wriggled away and her lips were in a fine line. Their conversation back at the Elite condo had ended in an agreement. Ammon would return to being the nice charming guy and Larissa would confess. So far Ammon had been keeping his end of the bargain. He hadn’t had an angry outburst, but at the same time he wasn’t 100% Ammon yet. She knew he was trying and that alone was praiseworthy. But she wasn’t quite ready to speak up. Not yet.

  “Maybe later.” She finally whispered back.

  “But I’m being myself aren’t I?” he protested.

  Larissa scoffed and sat up all the way. “Yes, you are.” She took his hand and laced her fingers with his. “And I see that you’re trying. But it’s only been a week. I need to know that the old Ammon is back to stay.”

  The boy glowered then leaded back in his seat. His fingers were still tangled with hers and his thumb began stroking the back of her hand tenderly. “I hope you know that you’re killing me slowly.” He muttered.

  If it weren’t for her supernatural hearing Larissa might not have heard him over the rumbling of the engine. “If that’s the case, then I just might have to tell you when you’re on your death bed.”

  Ammon gave her a crooked smirk. His eyes fell on her once again and this time he said nothing. He just studied her big brown eyes and the way the silky auburn hair ran down her chest.

  “What?” she asked after a solid minute of staring.

  Ammon shook his head as the smile remained. “We should take a picture.” He stood up and let his fingers slide from hers so that he could rummage through Cassie’s bag. She had fallen asleep and was now drooling on Josh’s shoulder. Apparently, she was a sound sleeper because she didn’t stir once.

  Ammon flopped back down beside Larissa and held the camera out. She squeezed her head beside his and smiled for the picture.

  “One step closer to Hawaii.” He said in Cassie’s voice then pressed the button. When nothing happened, Ammon cocked his head and pulled the camera close to his face.

  “Oh, wow,” Larissa giggled, “Maybe you should have turned the thing on!”

  ~Lotus Stelter straddled her surfboard and laid her stomach down flat. The noon sun had warmed her board and as she set her cheek on the heated surface, she felt as if her face were being fried. She gazed out at the endless stretch of flat water. There wasn’t a wave in sight. Even as her feet dangled in the cool water, she couldn’t sense an approaching surge.

  Kasper’s left foot collided with her right one and she glanced up at him. “I can’t believe there aren’t any good waves.” He said as his foot hooked around her heel beneath the water.

  Their knees were touching now and as the waves bobbed them about the water, their boards clanked together. Lotus sat up and sighed. He had just barely gotten off the plane an hour ago and had insisted they go surfing in Oahu. There was so much she had already told him. Mostly about Michael and the break up even after he confessed that he wasn’t just a supernatural, but the leader of the entire race. At lease Lotus knew why Michael seemed so busy at the time. And so did Kasper, considering that she told her manager everything. But it was still nice to talk to him in person.

  She stared past his dry curly hair at her city in the distant horizon. It looked absolutely beautiful with its enormous towers protruding from the water like silvery spears. Then she adjusted her eyes to meet his. They were crinkled to keep the sunlight out, but even as he squin
ted she could see the deep emerald color highlighted by the sun and how much it contrasted with the blue ocean. His hair had darkened near the roots so that his familiar golden blonde looked as grey as an ash tray. He just needed more time out in the sun to highlight his hair. Already the sun had turned his cheeks pink and freckles had begun to sprout across his built shoulders and his small nose.

  He hadn’t shaven in a while and when he scratched his chin it made a dry scraping sound. “Talk to me Lotus. What all did Michael tell you?”

  She felt like she had already told Kasper millions of times. Michael is the King and Mirage and Shadow weren’t his cousins, they were members of his Council along with August Matthews and a person Lotus might have met on occasion named Ithaca Iglesias.

  “He’s supposed to be in Italy today to deal with some other gang stuff.” Lotus finished, “But I have no idea when he’s getting back. I don’t see how he can do that. How in the world does he balance his life out like that? I mean, he’s probably been my closest friend- well aside from you- for like, four years now? And I never would have even guessed it!”

  “You didn’t tell him about your…?” Kasper let his voice fade. It was a question that had been ringing in the back of his mind since their first video chat shortly after Lotus found out about Michael. Kasper was the only other person that knew about Lotus’s secret and he made her swear on her life that she wouldn’t tell another soul.

  “Of course not!” she sputtered, “Jeez, I thought the reason why you didn’t ask before is because you trusted me.”

  “I do trust you, Lotus, I just know that sometimes people mess up and that would have been the perfect opportunity for you to slip.”

  Lotus shook her head. “Nah, Michael’s not worth it. I mean I love the guy, but… like I said, he’s not worth it.”

  Kasper let the moment linger as Lotus dipped her fingers in the surface of the water. When she pulled them out she watched the droplets fall back into the ocean. “What’s Michael going to do now?” he finally asked.